lex6819
03-25-2010, 02:34 PM
Hi,
I have outsourced a software project on Rentacoder. I picked a software developer who had a "top coder" icon next to his name, and 100% positive feedback. He (or she) has done a few projects on Rentacoder, not lots, but enough positive feedback I felt okay choosing this person. Also, they submitted a demo program to me even before placing a bid, so that was cool too.
I am not a software developer and I'm having trouble explaining to this person what I need the program to do. Basically, it's an astrology program that runs compatibility checks against two different birth dates OR between one birthdate and an entire other year range of dates (which generates a list of compatibility ratios for all 365 days in that year range). I asked for it to be two separate menu options, but I think the coder is confused?
I basically want this program to do two separate things: give me a list of compatible birthdates for each year selected, and then let me look at two specific birthdates for compatibility in greater detail.
Additionally, I want an option to be able to save either report (or both) as separate PDF files.
Here's part of the last message I sent to the coder:
It's not working somehow...
When I put in a main birthday and select a year from the date range menu on the right, it just runs the comparisons on the left side of the screen, it doesn't create a list of birthdates.
Let me clarify what I want the two menu options to do.
The date range option should take the birthdate from the main birthday input, and then select a year from the drop down box, to generate a list of birthdates with positive compatibility ratios. When I select the checkbox to get 100% positive results only, the output should be a list of birthdates from the year range selected that have only 100% positive compatibility with the main birthdate entered at the top of the screen. It should not show a record on the left side of the screen. It should generate a list of compatibility ratios only, for any year selected in the drop down box.
The menu option on the left should pull up only one report, showing the detailed compatibility between the main birthdate input and the other birthday input.
Right now, when I run the program on the right with the 100% box checked, it is displaying one record after another on the *left* side of the screen, and not generating a list on the right. Also, it only generates a list for the same year as the year of the main birthday. I need it to generate a list for each year I select. So, if I put in a main birthdate of jan 1 1972, and select the date range of another year - any year on the list - it needs to generate a compatibility ratio list between the main birthday and whatever year I pick.
For example, a client is born in 1972. The client wants to know if anyone born in 1965 is compatible. I would be able to run the date range option on the right side of the screen for all compatible birthdates of 1965 with the client birthdate provided.
Can you fix this?
I hope I explained the problems clearly. Please let me know if you have any questions or need further clarification.
thank you,
So, what I need feedback on from this board is: how to write better instructions for software developers on Rentacoder (or eLance or wherever) so I can get my projects completed accurately, with less hand-holding?
I took a CIS class at a local community college a long, long time ago, and I vaguely remember something about writing programs in some sort of DOS Basic program.
SHould I clarify my instructions using "if - then" statements and other language that would help the coder to understand what I'm trying to do here?
thank you!
Vicki
I have outsourced a software project on Rentacoder. I picked a software developer who had a "top coder" icon next to his name, and 100% positive feedback. He (or she) has done a few projects on Rentacoder, not lots, but enough positive feedback I felt okay choosing this person. Also, they submitted a demo program to me even before placing a bid, so that was cool too.
I am not a software developer and I'm having trouble explaining to this person what I need the program to do. Basically, it's an astrology program that runs compatibility checks against two different birth dates OR between one birthdate and an entire other year range of dates (which generates a list of compatibility ratios for all 365 days in that year range). I asked for it to be two separate menu options, but I think the coder is confused?
I basically want this program to do two separate things: give me a list of compatible birthdates for each year selected, and then let me look at two specific birthdates for compatibility in greater detail.
Additionally, I want an option to be able to save either report (or both) as separate PDF files.
Here's part of the last message I sent to the coder:
It's not working somehow...
When I put in a main birthday and select a year from the date range menu on the right, it just runs the comparisons on the left side of the screen, it doesn't create a list of birthdates.
Let me clarify what I want the two menu options to do.
The date range option should take the birthdate from the main birthday input, and then select a year from the drop down box, to generate a list of birthdates with positive compatibility ratios. When I select the checkbox to get 100% positive results only, the output should be a list of birthdates from the year range selected that have only 100% positive compatibility with the main birthdate entered at the top of the screen. It should not show a record on the left side of the screen. It should generate a list of compatibility ratios only, for any year selected in the drop down box.
The menu option on the left should pull up only one report, showing the detailed compatibility between the main birthdate input and the other birthday input.
Right now, when I run the program on the right with the 100% box checked, it is displaying one record after another on the *left* side of the screen, and not generating a list on the right. Also, it only generates a list for the same year as the year of the main birthday. I need it to generate a list for each year I select. So, if I put in a main birthdate of jan 1 1972, and select the date range of another year - any year on the list - it needs to generate a compatibility ratio list between the main birthday and whatever year I pick.
For example, a client is born in 1972. The client wants to know if anyone born in 1965 is compatible. I would be able to run the date range option on the right side of the screen for all compatible birthdates of 1965 with the client birthdate provided.
Can you fix this?
I hope I explained the problems clearly. Please let me know if you have any questions or need further clarification.
thank you,
So, what I need feedback on from this board is: how to write better instructions for software developers on Rentacoder (or eLance or wherever) so I can get my projects completed accurately, with less hand-holding?
I took a CIS class at a local community college a long, long time ago, and I vaguely remember something about writing programs in some sort of DOS Basic program.
SHould I clarify my instructions using "if - then" statements and other language that would help the coder to understand what I'm trying to do here?
thank you!
Vicki